Steering mechanism for beet-harvesters.



F. BRIGGS.

STEERING MECHANISM FOR BEBT HARVESTERS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4,1910.

Patented Sept. 12, 1911.

2 SHEETS-11331 1.

I amoewllo'z FRANK BRIGGS F. BRIGGS. STEERINQ'MEGHANISM FOR BEET HARVBSTERS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4,1910.

Patented Sept. 12, 1911 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FRANK BRIG GS g gggwm $5M? main drive shaft 2 members 11 of the and to means for guiding tl e UNITED STATES ri rnnr OFFICE.

FRANK BRIGGS, OF LEAVENWORIH, WASHINGTON.

STEERING MECHANISM FOR BEET-HARVESTERS.

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK Brides, a citizen of the United siding at Leavenworth, in the countyof ()kanogan and State of Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering Meohanisint'or Beet-Harvesters, of which the following is a specificati .)n,-refcrence being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

.In the operation of root harvestingmachines and more particularly those adapted for liftingbcets and the like, it. is necessary that the plows, lifting members, or the like he made to follow accurately the beet row or other line that the machine is operating on in order to avoid breaking of the beets and vegetables. The. irregularities of the ground over whichthe machine is drawn, and in the row itself as well the side motion of the team, must lfc overcome to prevent damage to the crop.

This invention relatesto "root harvesters machiii'efrom the operators station' to ho d the lifters or pullers in proper operaltiv row of beets vested. V n

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter setforth, and more particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

relation to the .or the like t at 1s a machine embodying -features of the in p In the drawings, Figmrel isa plan View of ention Fi 2 is a View in side elevation partly brolcen away; Fig. 3 is a View inside elevation of the machine with steering gear omitted. showing difl'ereut position of the pullers in relation to the surface of the ground; and Fig. 4c is a view in detail of forward gage wheels and their connections.

As herein ill ustratcd the machine is shown especially adapted for lifting sugar beets.

A pa r of traction bearin wheels 1' with supports the rear end of a main frame'l; A pair 'of'beet lifters 4 of'any preferred type are secured beneath the forward portion of the frame and have A co'n'veyer 6 w th 'ancndless conyeye'r 7 carries means oper the traction wheels. convergent depending races at their upper ends to,t 0 side main frame near the for A pair 0 10 are'pivoted Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed November 4, 1810. Serial No. 590,755.

States of America, re-

' an arm 26 being harf ward end thereof. Their united forward ends are pivoted by a stud 12 to the center of a yoke 13 which is carried by a pair of gage wheels 14 which travel on the lifters 4. n One of A 1ink 22 couples one end of the cross arm with the lower end of a steer-. ing lever 23 interlocking with a. frame 24. A rock shaft. 25. in "the main frame that is operated by the lever 23 has opposite the lever which is link 27 to the other end of the so that oscillation ofj the lever pole from side to side' of the push bar 28 is connected at one end to the leter- 23 and has alongitudinal slot at its forward end engaged by a stud 29 on the mainframe. A rod 30 connects one end of the yoke 13 with the push her 28. The connections between the steering lever 23, the yoke 13 and the cross arm 21 are so proportioned and adjusted that a. movementof the steering lever. 23 swings the pole in one direction and the forwardgage wheels'14 in the opposite direction.

coupled by a cross arm 21 swings the Patented Sept. 12, 1911.

'To support the pole 19- and permit it to i have limited range of vertical movement re gardless of elevation or depression of the main frame,. a,rea.rwa'rdly extending stem 31 on the segmental plate lever'so as to swing the gage-Wheelsat the pro'pe'r'angl'eto guide the lifters along the row. This movement throws the 18 has a lo'ngi.

' inner I surface oft other words the traction wheels and forward end of the ole are fixed oints and the tongue and rame are hinge between thembe kept accurately in operative relation to a row of beets or the like sohat the latter can be, lifted without being ,broken regardless of any irregularities in the .-row or-in the e ground; I j

Obviously, changes in the details of con- 'struction may .be madeyw'ithout departing from the" spirit of the invention and I do" not wish to limit myself to any particular form or arrangement of parts,

I claim asmy invention I i 1. In a root harvester, a main frame, main bearin I wheels supporting the rear' end thereo gage wheels supportin the forward end thereof, a' draft pole pl-voted to the forward end of the m'achinexto swing in a horizontal plane, ananually operable means for simultaneously swin mg the pole and gage .Wheels'in opposite irections, and root lifters on the mam frame between the main and'gage wheels;

2. In a root harvester, a main frame, main bearing wheels su porting the rear end thereof, "gage whe s supportin 'the forward end theredf angularly 'adjusta le in a'horizontal plane, -a draft pole pivoted to the forward end of the frame to swing in a horizontal plane, manually operable means for simultaneously swinging the pole and ame between the main and wheels.

- 3. In a root-harvester, a main-frame, main the rear end bearin' wheels supportin g, vert he gage wheels thereo ically .adjusta supporting the .forward', end thereof, a draft lation' to the frame, manually, operable means 'for simultaneously swinging t e. pole andgage wheels laterally in opposite directigms, and' root' lifters, secured to'thejmain framebetween the'm'ain and gage wheels. j 4. Inaroot harvester, a main frame, main bearing. wheels supporting the' rear, end thereof, a, ,yoke plvotally supporting the forward end of the" frame, wheels johrnaled on the yokefadraft po e to ,the forward'end of the machine to swing laterally, a' steering lever 'operatively; con- I ;nected to the yoke andftothe pole to'swing them in, opposite, directions when moved and rootlifters on" th: limin frame between the I main and gagewheels.

5. In a rootharvesten 'a'main frame, main wheels supporting the ,rear end.

, bearin :thereoi a yoke bivotally supporting the age wheels in" 'iposite.dir-ectiqms, means oi! raising and owe'rin the frame on the gage wheels, and root lfter's onthe mainpivoted- I forward 'end of the frame, gage wheels journaled on the yoke, a segment plate vertically tiltable on the forward end of the main frame, a draft pole pivoted to the segment plate to swin laterally, a steering lever on" the main rame operativcly connected to the yoke and to the pole to swing them in o posite directions when moved, and root li ters on the main frame between the main and age wheels.

6. In a root arvester, a main frame, main hearin wheels supporting therear end thereof, gage wheels 'supporting the forward end'thereof, a pole ivotally connected 'to the forward end of the frame to swing laterall and to tilt. vertically, adjustable means or. limitingthe range of the vertical movement of the pole, manually operable means on'th'e main frame ada ,ted to s'imu1 taneously swing .the' pole an gage wheels laterally in opposite directions, and root lifters on' the main frame between the main and. 'ge wheels.

.7 a root harvester, a main frame, main bearin' wheelsv supporting the rear end thereof, a gage wheel yoke on the forward end of the main frame, means for swinging .the yoke toward the frame, gage wheels su porting the yoke, a vertically and laterall y adjustable draft pole on the forward end of the main frame, steering means on the main fraine operatively connected to. the

ward end of the frame to swing ina-vertical plane, a hand lever on the frame for moving thebraces, a. oke pivoted to the dependent cqnneeted end; of the braces to swing, laterally, gage wheels 'j'ournaled on the joke, a draft pole pivoted to the forward end of the frame to s'winglaterally andsteering m'eanson the main frame operatively con- ;hectecl to the pole and yoke and adapted to swing them in opposite directions when moved.

9. In a root harvester, a main frame, main 'bearin wheels supporting the rear end thereof, ga e. wheels supporting the for ward end,ft ereof a se ent plate pivoted to the forward. end of t e main frame onan axis transverse to the frame, a draft pole pivoted to the plate to swing laterally 1n the ,plane thereof, adjustable means on the frame for lim ting the range of m'ot1on of I the plate, steering means on the frame connected to the pole and gage wheels and adapted to swing them laterally in opposite directions when moved and root lifters 'on' the'main frame behind the gage wheels.

10. In aroot harvester, a main frame,

main bearing wheel's supporting the rear ioo end thereof, gage wheels supporting the :t'orward end thereof, a pole pivotally eonneeted to the forward end of the frame to swing laterally, a cross arm on the rear end of the pole, a transverse reek shaft on the main frame, a steering lever seeured at one end of the shaft, a rock arm extending from the shaft opposite to the lever, a link eonneetingone end of the eross arm and the lever, link articulating the other end of the eross arm and the roek arm, means eoir neeting the gage wheels and lever to swing the wheels in opposite direction to the pole when the lever is moved, and root. litters on the main frame behind the gage wheels.

11. ln :1 root harvester, a main frame, main hearing wheels snnnorting the rear end thereof. a segment plate pivoted to the forward end thereof on an axis transverse to the frame, an upright slotted memher on the plate. an angnlarly adjustahle. lever on the frame engagingthe slotted member. a

draft pole pivoted at its rear end to the segment plate to swing laterally in the plane thereof, a cross arm on the rear end of the pole, a transverse rock shafton the main frame, a lever secured to the rock shaft, a rock arm secured to the rock shaft oppositely to the lever, a link coupling the lever with one end of the cross bar, a link artieulating the rock arm with the other end of the cross bar, means on the frame for look ing the. shaft lever in an adjusted position, a pair of braces pivoted near their upper ends to the main frame, a yoke pivoted to the connected lower ends of the braces to swing laterally, a pair of gage wheels supporting the yoke, means connecting the yoke and rock shaft lever to swing the yoke oppositely to the pole when the lever is moved, a lever for swinging the braees on the frame, means on the frame for locking: the hraee lever in adjusted position, and root lifters on the main frame behind the gage wheels.

In testimony whereof T attix my signature in n'esenee of two witnesses.

FRANK BRIGGS. Witnesses:

E. W. Evans, Gr. E. Evans. 

